Colleges/Universities for Music?

How do I break my addiction to music in order to improve my life?

• I don't even want to hear anybody say that there is no such thing as a "music addiction". Trust me, there is. I know a lot of people claim to not be able to go a long time without music, but mine has gotten to the point where it is all I think about. Seriously. Even when I am doing other things like studying or partying or having a conversation there is either some music going on in my head or I am thinking of music related topics or stockpiling a list of musicians, producers, albums, songs, names, bands, lyrics, dates, interviews etc in my head to research as soon as possible. The thing is I do not want to quit, but I know I need to in order to improve other areas of my life. It is not unusual for me to spend up to or more than 10 hours a day researching, listening to, or attempting to play music. Even if I am extremely tired and attempt to go to bed, I cannot stop thinking about music. I'll go to bed around 11:00pm (and this usually means I have been listening to music for several hours beforehand) and be up till 6:00am reading articles on music, and even stuff like timing signatures in certain songs and how the artist came up with the idea for certain songs. Sometimes I will sit and write down lyrics for songs into my iTunes list for hours. Sometimes people get mad at me in my car because I would rather listen to a song I have heard many times instead of have a conversation with them. (and I do have a life and lots of friends and go on dates and to bars and stuff. I'm not anti-social, it's just that music takes up the rest of my time). I have a hard time concentrating on anything else (like studying for university) and my marks suffer because of it. It is more than just a lack of will power because nothing else has affected me this badly. I have just sat in my room for hours and listened to music, and nothing else. Even while writing this out I stopped several times to find music or listen to music or music related topics. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it is very real. I have tried to not listen to music for extended periods of time but I can never do it. I find myself making excuses to do it, or getting restless. If i could listen and research music all day everyday I would. I have tried studying without music but I always choose music over good grades and I have no idea why. It doesn't make sense but it is the very real urge, almost dependency I have on it. This has been going on for years. So basically, if anyone has any advice on how to break this addiction as the start of a process of organizing my life and priorities, I would love to hear it.

• Answer:

  I agree about the AA book.. it is very helpful in any addiction..Is it that you just love every type of music that you just want to hear the words, or is it your trying to find the meaning of every song and what the artist is really trying to portray? I would love to know the answer to that, because I am a person who has a very addictive personality, and I am addicted to music also, but not near as bad as you. I just like finding the meaning of every song, and basing it to my life. I hope you can just enjoy the music and what the artist is saying, and do not let it overcome your life and priorities. If you want email me i would love to here what you are thinking when you have to hear music..